THE  BURGLAR'S 
DAUGHTER  : : :  BY 
MARGARET  PENROSE 


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THE 

BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER 

OR 

A   TRUE  HEART   WINS   FRIENDS 


BY 

MARGARET    PENROSE 


tflltistratrij  fag 
FRANK   T.    MERRILL 


BOSTON 

DANA    ESTES    &    COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  1899 
By  Jordan,  Marsh  &  Co. 


Colonial  press: 

Electrotyped  and  Printed  by  C.  H.  Simonds  &  Co. 
Boston,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 


THE   BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER 

OR 

A  TRUE   HEART  WINS  FRIENDS. 


I. 

"  Papa  wishes  to  see  you  in  the  study  before 
your  guests  arrive,"  said  Mrs.  Weston,  entering 
her  little  daughter's  room. 

"  Yes,  mamma,  I  wonder  what  he  is  going  to 
give  me." 

"  Run  and  see,  love,"  answered  her  mother, 
smilingly. 

"  Well,  you  come,  too,  mamma." 

So  down-stairs  they  hurried  to  the  study. 

"  Ethel,"  said  papa,  "  I  have  bought  you  the 
silver  work-box  you  wanted  so  much,  and  I  am 
sure  my  little  daughter  will  make  good  use  of 
its  contents." 

7 


8  THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  papa,"  exclaimed  Ethel, 
"  how  good  you  are  to  me  !     I  am  so  happy  !  " 

"Come,  come,  now,"  said  her  mother,  laugh- 
ing, "  you  will  forget  all  about  your  guests  in 
making  pretty  speeches  to  papa ; "  for  this  was 
Ethel's  tenth  birthday,  and  she  had  invited  her 
little  friends  to  a  party  given  in  honor  of  the 
occasion. 

Everything  was  ready,  the  table  spread  with 
good  things  to  delight  the  heart  of  every  one, 
and  Tom,  the  old  butler,  was  on  hand  to  serve 
the  little  guests  with  as  much  ceremony  as  he 
did  mamma's. 

Ethel  was  dressed  in  a  lovely  new  gown  of 
white  muslin,  with  little  bows  of  pink  falling 
from  the  waist  to  the  bottom  of  the  hem.  Her 
bright  golden  hair  was  tied  with  ribbons  of  the 
same  color,  and  she  made  a  very  pretty  picture, 
as  she  stood  waiting  with  mamma  to  receive  her 
guests  at  the  drawing-room  door. 

Just  then  the  bell  rang,  the  guests  began  to 
arrive,  and  Ethel  was  made  busy  welcoming  her 
little  friends,  thanking  them  for  their  good 
wishes  and  thoughtful  presents. 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  9 

Among  these  were  a  pair  of  skates,  a  mando- 
lin, a  lovely  gold  ring,  and  many  other  beauti- 
ful things.    Ethel  was  bewildered  and  delighted. 

The  children  played  games,  some  played  on  the 
piano,  others  danced,  and  our  little  hostess,  with 
great  dignity,  talked  first  with  one,  then  another, 
seeing  that  all  were  having  a  social  time. 

"  Oh,  Ethel,  I  am  very  glad  you  got  the 
skates  you  wanted  so  much,"  exclaimed  May 
Brown.  "  I  do  hope  my  mamma  will  let  me 
have  a  pair." 

"  Won't  we  have  a  good  time  this  winter  ?  " 
chimed  in  Maud  Fletcher,  with  visions  of  glitter- 
ing ice  fields. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Ethel, "  we  must  all  learn  to 
skate.  Mamma  says  it's  great  sport,  and  I  think 
we  ought  to  form  a  kind  of  club  or  something." 

Then  they  all  laughed,  and  clapped  their 
hands.  "  Oh,  goody,  goody,  fancy  our  having 
a  skating  club  just  like  our  mammas  have  their 
whist  clubs  !  " 

"  I  guess  we  wouldn't  be  big  and  old  enough," 
said  shy  little  Hattie  Jones  ;  "  anyway,  we  will 
ask  Mrs.  Weston  and  get  her  advice." 


10  THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

Here  lunch  was  announced,  Mrs.  Weston  play- 
ing a  lively  tune  on  the  piano,  and  all  the  happy 
little  ones  marched  into  the  dining-room,  Ethel 
leading  the  way.  She  took  a  seat  at  the  head 
of  the  table,  where  she  could  see  that  every  one 
had  a  generous  helping  of  cake,  ice-cream,  candy, 
and  fruit. 

It  was  a  happy  hour. 

Suddenly  loud  voices  were  heard  in  Mr.  Wes- 
ton's study,  where  he  was  busy  preparing  notes 
for  his  work  as  night  editor  of  a  newspaper. 
Ethel  heard  the  voices ;  they  made  her  heart 
flutter.     What  could  they  mean  ? 

"  Come  now,"  said  a  strange  man,  "  it  is  use- 
less for  you  to  make  any  resistance,  Mr.  Weston." 

The  word  " useless"  startled  the  little  girl. 
She  wondered  who  could  dare  speak  like  this  to 
papa,  but  she  did  not  forget  her  duty  to  her 
guests,  and  increased  her  efforts  to  please  and 
interest  them. 

All  the  other  girls  were  laughing  and  en- 
joying themselves.  She  stepped  aside  to  listen. 
Presently  her  quick  ear  heard  the  front  door 
close,  and  a  carriage  drive  rapidly  awray.     She 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  11 

heard  the  servants  running  back  and  forth  to 
her  mamma's  room,  talking  in  hushed  voices. 

What  could  such  things  mean!  Was  her 
father  in  trouble  ? 

The  feast  being  over,  the  little  ladies  returned 
to  the  drawing-room,  and  renewed  their  games, 
but  our  little  hostess  had  somehow  lost  heart. 
So  after  another  half-hour  of  merriment,  the 
girls  began  to  leave,  declaring  the  party  the 
loveliest  of  their  lives,  and  wishing  Ethel  happi- 
ness in  many  ways. 

When  at  last  Ethel  found  herself  free,  she  ran 
to  her  mother's  room  and  knocked  once,  twice, 
but  without  response. 

"  Mamma  darling,  it's  Ethel ;  may  I  come 
in  ?  " 

The  door  opened,  and  Ethel  saw  her  mother 
unconscious  on  the  couch,  with  a  maid  attending 
her. 

"Hush,  Miss  Ethel,"  said  the  maid,  "you 
must  not  make  any  noise  to  disturb  your  mamma. 
She  is  very  ill,  and  the  doctor  is  coming  directly.'' 
A  look  of  wonder  and  distress  came  into  Ethel's 
face. 


12  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

"  What  made  my  mamma  ill,  Kate,  and  where 
is  papa  ?  "  she  asked,  hurriedly. 

"  Your  papa  went  away  with  two  men,  and 
your  mamma  fainted,"  the  girl  tried  to  explain. 

Her  mother  moved. 

"  Oh,  come  quick,  Kate,  mother  is  opening 
her  eyes.     Speak,  mamma,  do  you  know  me  ? " 

"  Yes,  darling,  I  know  you,"  said  mamma, 
feebly,  "  but  you  must  leave  me  now,  and  go 
to  bed  early  to-night.  To-morrow,  when  I  feel 
better,  I  will  talk  with  you." 

"  But  where  is  papa  gone  ? "  asked  Ethel,  still 
wondering  how  all  this  trouble  came. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  to-night,  Ethel,  so  now 
you  may  kiss  me  and  come  to  me  early  to-mor- 
row morning.  This  is  the  only  way  you  can 
help  me  now,  dear,  I  am  ill." 

What  a  sad  ending  to  such  a  delightful  birth- 
day !  Her  thoughts  ran  over  the  events  of  the 
party,  —  the  hours  of  happiness  ending  with 
grief.  She  prayed  earnestly,  with  all  the  inno- 
cence of  childhood,  that  everything  might  end 
well,  and  in  the  peace  that  came  with  this 
simple  trust,  she  fell  asleep. 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  13 

Early  next  morning  she  arose,  dressed  hur- 
riedly, trying  all  the  time  to  overcome  a  feeling 
of  sadness,  that  forced  itself  upon  her,  when  she 
recalled  what  had  happened  last  evening. 

She  crushed  down  her  fears,  and  ran  to  her 
mother's  room.     A  white  face  met  her  there. 

"  Good-morning,  mamma,"  she  said,  pleas- 
antly, "  I  hope  you  are  well  this  morning." 

Her  mother  held  out  her  arms  to  her. 

"  Yes,  thank  you,  love,  I  feel  much  better 
than  I  did  last  evening,  and  now  my  little 
girl  shall  sit  with  me  and  we  will  have  a  good 
long  talk  together. 

"  In  the  first  place,"  began  Mrs.  Weston, 
"you  must  show  me  you  have  courage,  for  what 
I  am  going  to  tell  you  will  be  as  great  a  shock 
to  you  as  it  is  to  me.  I  will  tell  you  all,  for 
we  must  fight  the  battle  of  life  together  now, 
and  learn  to  comfort  each  other.  You  may  be 
all  that  is  left  to  me."  The  words  trembled. 
Ethel  had  never  heard  her  mother  speak  in  such 
a  tone  before. 

Ethel's  blue  eyes  were  fastened  on  her 
mother's  face,  and   Mrs.  Weston's  heart  failed 


14  THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

her  for  a  moment,  as  she  realized  how  this 
young  life  must  be  darkened.  Yet,  much  as  it 
pained  her  to  make  the  revelation,  she  thought 
that  her  daughter  had  better  learn  the  truth 
from  her  than  from  a  stranger.  So  she  nerved 
herself  to  explain  the  mystery  of  the  past 
evening. 

"  I  always  supposed,"  resumed  the  mother, 
"  that  your  papa  owned  a  large  interest  in  the 
newspaper  for  which  he  chose  to  be  night  editor, 
and  that  he  was  a  rich  man.  We  had  every- 
thing we  wanted,  and  as  I  did  not  Concern 
myself  with  money  matters,  I  never  asked  him 
where  all  of  our  valuable  diamonds  and  other 
presents  came  from.  I  believed  that  they  were 
honestly  earned  ;  but  everything  was  made  plain 
last  night,  although  what  has  happened  is 
almost  too  terrible  to  believe." 

She  was  unable  to  speak  for  a  time,  but  she 
continued  : 

"  It  seems  that  many  of  the  nights,  when  your 
papa  was  supposed  to  be  at  his  office,  he  was 
stealing  into  the  homes  of  wealthy  people,  taking 
their  money  and    any  valuables  that   he  could 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  15 

turn  into  money.  In  fact,  clear,  he  is  —  I  am 
ashamed  to  tell  you  —  a  burglar." 

The  child  did  not  appear  to  fully  understand 
the  disgrace  of  the  situation,  and  was  silent,  so 
Mrs.  Weston  resumed  : 

"Although  this  is  a  very  great  fault"  —  she 
was  about  to  say  "  crime,"  —  "  yet  I  cannot  wish 
you  to  dislike  papa,  nor  to  lose  hope  for  him,  for 
certainly  he  was  kind  to  you  and  me.  Let  us 
rather  believe  he  must  have  been  strongly 
tempted  in  some  way,  and  let  us  never  give  up 
hoping  that  he  may  sometime  become  an  honest 
man." 

They  sat  together,  very  still.  Ethel  began  to 
cry,  but  as  she  saw  the  tears  come  in  mamma's 
eyes,  she  wiped  her  own,  and  said,  resolutely  : 

"  I  shall  always  love  my  papa,  and  I  will 
never  believe  he  is  a  very  bad  man.  Some- 
thing may  have  led  him  astray.  But,  oh ! 
mamma,  do  you  suppose  he  could  have  taken 
my  silver  work-box  from  anybody's  house  ?  I 
never  could  keep  it  if  I  thought  that." 

"  No,  dear,  you  need  have  no  doubt  about  the 
box,  for  I  was  with  papa  when  he  bought  that 


16  THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

at  Hill's.  So  cheer  up  and  be  as  strong  as  you 
can,  for  I  must  tell  you  something  more.  I  had 
hoped  last  night  there  might  be  some  mistake 
when  he  was  accused,  but  I  see  by  the  morning 
papers  that  papa  has  confessed  his  wrong-doing. 
Now,  we  must  sell  everything  in  this  house  to 
pay  his  debts,  so  that  it  will  be  easier  for  him. 
Do  you  understand,  dearie  ?" 

Ethel  saw  poverty  before  them  ;  she  saw  that 
they  must  become  like  other  poor  people,  but  her 
heart  should  be  true. 

"  Yes,  mamma,  please  go  on  ;  I  can  bear  what 
you  can  bear." 

"  We  must  move  into  some  inexpensive  place, 
where  we  will  furnish  a  room  or  two,  as  cheaply 
as  we  can.  So  you  see,  Ethel,  you  must  be  brave 
to  help  me." 

The  little  girl's  face  showed  a  sudden  resolu- 
tion. "  Of  course  I  want  to  help  you,  mamma ; 
but  who  will  buy  all  of  our  things  ? " 

"  I  have  sent  for  a  man  who  will  attend  to 
that.  We  will  now  have  breakfast,  and  then  I 
will  go  with  you  to  school,  to  inform  your 
teacher  you  will  not  come  any  more." 


THE   BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  17 

This  was  a  hard  hour.  Life  indeed  had  changed 
from  the  day  before. 

"  Very  well,  mamma,"  said  Ethel,  but  her 
school  was  very  dear  to  her,  and  she  felt  heart- 
broken at  the  thought  of  leaving  it.  Excusing 
herself,  she  ran  to  her  room  and  gave  way  to 
bitter  tears.  "  Now,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  I 
must  take  papa's  place,  and  help  mamma  ;  so 
surely  I  must  not  let  her  see  my  sorrow  at  part- 
ing with  my  teacher  and  schoolmates." 

She  returned  to  the  dining-room,  making  a 
good  attempt  at  cheerfulness.  She  was  facing  a 
new  world  now.  She  had  never  felt  the  need  of 
courage  before. 

"  I  have  ordered  the  carriage  for  the  last 
time,  dear,"  remarked  mamma  after  breakfast. 
They  were  soon  ready  for  their  sad  drive  to  the 
schoolhouse. 

"To  Miss  Hall's  school,  John,"  said  Mrs. 
Weston,  and  a  pang  shot  through  her  heart  as 
she  thought  of  the  first  humiliating  interview, 
because  their  disgrace  was  now  publicly  known. 

The  streets  were  filled  with  excited  voices. 
"  Morning   papers,"    shouted   a   newsboy,   "  all 


18  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

about  the  capture  of  Weston,  the  gentleman 
burglar."  A  like  cry  was  heard  from  other 
street-corners. 

The  coachman  looked  back.  The  blood 
mounted  to  the  faces  of  mother  and  daughter, 
and  Mrs.  Weston  thought  if  Ethel  could  only 
be  spared  this  her  own  heart  would  have  been 
stronger.  Her  child's  father's  name  a  byword 
on  the  street ! 

"  Listen,  mamma,"  said  Ethel,  "  can  they 
mean  my  papa  ? "  That  was  a  moment  the 
child  could  never  forget. 

"  We  will  not  stop  to  listen  now.  See  — 
here  is  the  schoolhouse." 

With  heavy  heart  Ethel  walked  up  the  old 
familiar  steps  with  her  mother  to  her  own  class 
room,  and  knocked  gently  on  the  door.  The 
resolute  look  came  back  to  her  face. 

"  Mamma,"  she  said,  "  to  show  you  my  cour- 
age, I  myself  will  tell  Miss  Hall  I  am  going  to 
leave." 

The  door  opened.  "  Good-morning,  Ethel," 
said  Miss  Hall,  coldly,  "  you  are  very  late  this 


THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  19 

"What  made  Miss  Hall  speak  in  such  a 
strange  voice  ? "  thought  Ethel.  The  girls,  too, 
why  did  they  not  notice  her  instead  of  keeping 
their  eyes  so  intently  on  their  books,  or  glancing 
at  her  shyly  ? 

"I  have  come  to  tell  you,  Miss  Hall,"  re- 
plied Ethel  in  a  clear  voice,  "  that  I  shall  not 
be  able  to  attend  school  any  more." 

Her  poor  little  heart  beat  heavily,  and  a  great 
lump  came  into  her  throat.  She  seemed  chok- 
ing. 

"  Indeed,"  said  Miss  Hall,  "  of  course  we  are 
very  sorry,  but  under  the  circumstances  you  are 
acting  for  the  best.  You  both  have  our  sympa- 
thy." 

The  words  were  kind,  but  there  was  cold 
sympathy  in  the  tone. 

Ethel's  face  flushed,  but  Mrs.  Weston  paid 
Miss  Hall  the  small  amount  of  tuition  due,  and 
they  went  out  in  silence.  They  felt  that  the 
world's  heart  was  withdrawn  from  them. 

"  Just  think,"  said  Ethel,  as  they  were  seated 
in  the  carriage,  "  not  one  of  the  girls  smiled,  or 
recognized  me,  and  how  distant  Miss  Hall  was. 


20  THE, BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

We  have  done  nothing  wrong,  mamma.  I  would 
pity  another  little  girl  like  me.  Is  all  the  world 
like  that?" 

"  Never  mind,  darling,"  replied  her  mother, 
**  you  are  very  young  to  have  such  a  bitter  les- 
son. When  trouble  comes,  some  friends  avoid 
us,  but  not  all.  There  are  true  hearts  in  the 
world.  Real  friends  should  always  be  true  to 
those  in  trouble,  and  I  am  sure  your  school- 
mates will  be  sorry  they  did  not  give  you  a 
friendly  nod." 

When  they  arrived  home,  they  found  there^a 
strange  man,  who  had  been  through  all  the 
rooms,  and  who  asked  Mrs.  Weston  many  ques- 
tions. 

"  Everything  will  be  taken  away  in  three 
days,  madam,"  he  said.  "  Hello,  little  girl,"  to 
Ethel,  pinching  her  cheek  with  his  rough  fingers. 

"  I  am  not  a  baby,  sir,"  retorted  Ethel,  sharply, 
in  a  tone  of  self-respect,  at  which  the  man 
laughed  rather  sheepishly,  and  left  the  house. 
The  incident  would  not  have  occurred  the  day 
before. 

Mrs.  Weston  called  together  the  servants  and 


THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  21 

explained  that  they  could  be  kept  no  longer, 
and  they  went  away  very  sadly,  seeking  employ- 
ment elsewhere.  The  poor  pity  the  poor,  and 
they  pitied  the  helpless  wife. 

After  everything  was  sold,  except  a  few  keep- 
sakes which  Mrs.  Weston  had  before  her  mar- 
riage, and  Ethel's  precious  work-box,  and  the 
debts  had  been  paid,  Ethel  and  her  mother  went 
out  looking  for  inexpensive  lodgings. 

They  tried  door  after  door,  wherever  they  saw 
the  sign  "  Rooms  to  Let,"  only  to  hear  the  rent 
was  too  high,  and  to  have  people  stare  and 
wonder  at  their  refined  manners.  Indeed,  the. 
shrewd  landladies  often  made  the  price  of  their 
rooms  a  little  higher  than  usual  on  account  of 
the  appearance  of  the  applicants. 

It  was  indeed  a  changing  world  that  the  two 
faced  now. 


II. 

In  the  afternoon  of  their  second  day  of  room- 
hunting  their  attention  was  attracted  by  a  little 
boy  crying  pitifully.  The  case  of  sorrow  touched 
Mrs.  Weston's  heart.  "  What  is  the  matter, 
little  boy  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  run'd  away  and  now  I  tan't  find  my 
mamma/'  cried  the  poor  little  fellow. 

"  Where  do  you  live,  dear  ? " 

"  At  29  D Street,"  stammered  the  boy. 

"  Why,  that  is  just  around  the  corner,"  said 
Mrs.  Weston.  "  Come  with  us,  and  we  will  take 
you  home  to  your  mamma." 

The  boy's  face  cleared,  and  he  was  prattling 
happily  when  they  reached  his  home. 

A  neat-looking  German  woman   appeared  at 

the    door.     "  Is   this    your    little    boy  ? "   asked 

Mrs.   Weston.     But    the    little    fellow    ran   in, 

the  moment   the    door  opened,  so  his  mamma 

22 


"what's  the  matter  little  boy?"  she  asked. 


THE   BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  23 

thanked  them  and  declared  "  dat  leetle  poy  vas 
alvays  running  avay." 

This  was  an  odd  incident,  but  was  not  without 
result. 

"  By  the  way,"  said  Mrs.  Weston,  "  do  you 
know  where  we  can  get  a  room  around  here  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  haff  got  von  myself  to  let,"  she 
replied. 

They  were  shown  into  the  house,  and  liked 
the  room,  which  was  within  their  means,  and 
the  next  day  found  them  comfortably  settled,  — 
but  how  unlike  was  all  this  new  life  to  their  old 
home  ! 

For  the  first  week  everything  went  well. 
But  one  morning  Mrs.  Weston  awoke  with  a 
severe  headache,  and  she  had  to  keep  her  bed 
all  day.  Ethel's  opportunity  came  now.  She 
showed  herself  a  real  little  woman.  She  took 
as  it  were  ten  years  upon  her  life.  She  waited 
upon  her  mother,  bathing  her  temples,  made 
tea,  and  insisted  that  mamma  should  drink  it. 
She  read  aloud  to  her  patient  until  the  latter 
fell  asleep. 

But  the  next  morning    mamma   was  worse, 


24  THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

and  Ethel  knew  she  must  go  for  a  doctor.  She 
wondered  if  the  price  for  the  doctor  could  be 
spared  out  of  their  hoard.  She  was  facing  new 
heartaches  every  hour.  A  doctor  she  must 
have,  so  she  asked  Mrs.  Heintz  to  direct  her  to 
a  good  man.  She  was  dealing  with  new  people 
now. 

"  Yell/'  said  the  good  woman,  "  you  go  down 
to  the  corner,  and  turn  to  de  lef,  and  dere  you 
find  Doctor  Clifford.    He  vas  very  good  doctor." 

Ethel  hurried  off  to  the  doctor's  office,  and 
rang  the  bell  several  times.  How  slowly  the 
door  seemed  to  open  !     A  servant  stood  there. 

"  Please,  ma'am,  I  want  Doctor  Clifford,  my 
mamma  is  very  ill." 

"  The  doctor  has  been  out  all  night,  miss, 
and  is  just  going  to  lie  down  to  rest,"  said  the 
maid. 

"  Oh,  I  must  see  him,  —  just  think  of  my  poor 
sick  mamma  !  "  exclaimed  Ethel. 

The  maid  was  about  to  send  the  child  away, 
when  the  doctor  passed  through  the  hall,  and 
Ethel,  catching  a  glimpse  of  him,  rushed  past 
the  girl. 


THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  25 

"  Oh,  please,  Doctor  Clifford/'  she  pleaded, 
"  will  you  come  to  see  my  sick  mamma  ?  It's 
only  a  little  way,  and  she  is  very  ill." 

Accident  sometimes  directs  us  to  true  friends 
in  the  time  of  trouble.     It  was  so  now. 

«  Why,  I  am  sure  I  can't  refuse  you,  dear," 
said  the  kind-hearted  man,  gazing  at  the  little 
girl  in  trouble. 

Putting  on  his  hat,  he  took  the  child  by  the 
hand,  and  together  they  started  for  the  sick 
woman's  bedside. 

On  the  way  the  doctor  asked  many  questions, 
as  he  felt  the  little  hand  in  his  own,  and 
learned  a  good  deal  about  the  misfortunes  of 
Mrs.  Weston,  and  his  heart  was  filled  with  ad- 
miration for  the  sweet  little  maid,  whose  only 
thought  was,  How  could  she  help  her  mother  ? 

"  Where  is  your  father,  my  little  girl  ? "  asked 
the  doctor. 

"  He  is  in  trouble,  sir,  but  mamma  is  not  to 
blame." 

"  I  pity  folks  in  trouble,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  Are  there  many  little  girls  in  trouble  ? " 
asked  the  child. 


26  THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

u  Yes,  yes,  the  world  is  fall  of  trouble,  little 
girl."  The  doctor  felt  the  child's  hand  quiver, 
and  that  sympathetic  quiver  went  to  his  heart. 
He  tightened  the  grasp  on  her  hand.  "  I  will 
do  all  I  can  for  you,  little  one,  I  will  be  your 
friend." 

There  are  moments  in  which  these  words  are 
the  sweetest  in  life.  Young  as  she  was,  Ethel 
felt  their  force,  and  had  gained  new  courage  by 
the  time  they  reached  the  house. 

Ethel  went  in  first,  and  after  a  moment 
turned  to  the  doctor  and  said,  "  Mamma  has 
fallen  asleep,  sir,  so  will  you  please  sit  down, 
and  wait  until  she  wakes  up  ?  " 

The  words  went  to  his  heart.  He  smiled  at 
the  remark,  for  Ethel  had  not  the  least  idea  of 
the  value  of  his  time,  but  he  became  very  sober 
when  he  felt  his  patient's  pulse. 

"  Have  you  any  one  to  help  you  take  care  of 
your  mamma  ? "  he  asked. 

"  No,  sir,  nobody  but  Mrs.  Heintz,  who  is 
always  busy,  but  little  Freddie  helps  me  some- 
times.    Would  you  like  him  now  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  don't  think  we  will 


"I    WILL    BE    YOUR    FRIEND. 


THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  27 

want  Freddie,  —  in  fact,  I  must  tell  you,  your 
mamma  is  very  sick  indeed.  She  has  had  a 
severe  shock,  and  you  will  want  some  one  who 
will  know  when  to  give  her  the  medicine.  She 
must  be  very  quiet  and  —  " 

"  Oh,  sir,  I  can  take  care  of  my  own  mamma, 
and  I  will  do  everything  you  tell  me.  Mrs. 
Heintz  will  stay  here  while  I  go  -for  the  medi- 
cine, and  I  don't  want  anybody  else,  because," 
she  declared,  becoming  very  red  in  the  face,  "  I 
am  afraid  we  haven't  money  enough  to  give  any 
one  for  staying  with  mamma." 

"Well,  I  will  try  you  until  I  come  again," 
said  the  doctor.  "  You  must  get  this  prescrip- 
tion filled,  and  give  it  as  directed." 

He  trudged  along  home  thinking  of  this 
beautiful  child,  and  promising  himself  to  return 
later  in  the  day. 

When  the  doctor  had  gone  Ethel  went  to  the 
little  box  mamma  kept  their  money  in,  and  — 
could  this  be  ?  —  it  was  empty  !  What  should 
she  do  to  get  the  medicine  ? 

She  must  ask  the  druggist  to  give  it  to  her, 
and  pay  him  when  her  mamma  got  well.     Call- 


28  THE   BURGLAR' S    DAUGHTER. 

ing  Mrs.  Heintz  to  stay  with  her  mother,  she 
ran  to  the  store. 

"  Please,  sir,  my  mamma  is  so  sick  she  can't 
talk,  and  I  don't  know  where  our  money  is,  but 
if  you  will  give  me  this  medicine  I  will  pay  you 
when  she  gets  better." 

"Very  sorry,  but  I  can't  do  it,"  replied  the 
clerk,  "  my  orders  are  i  no  money,  no  medicine.' ' 

Poor  Ethel  was  mortified,  but  replied,  bravely, 
"  Indeed,  sir,  my  mamma  has  the  money  to  pay 
yon,  but  I  don't  know  where  it  is." 

"  That  don't  help  the  matter,"  returned  the 
clerk,  "  the  boss  don't  allow  me  to  trust 
strangers." 


III. 

The  little  girl  ran  home  and  told  Mrs.  Heintz 
all  about  the  refusal. 

"  Veil,  dat's  all  right  —  I  gif  you  some  money 
—  if  you  vas  sure  your  mamma  has  it  some- 
vere,"  she  said. 

Ethel  did  not  like  the  way  the  offer  was  made, 
so  she  suggested  Mrs.  Heintz  take  a  ring  she  had 
admired  in  return  for  the  money. 

So  this  first  sacrifice  of  one  of  her  treasures 
being  agreed  upon,  Ethel  ran  again  to  the  drug- 
store, and  this  time  obtained  the  precious  medi- 
cine which  would  make  her  mamma  quite  well. 

She  had  faced  her  first  moneyless  hour. 

When  she  returned  home,  she  found  the  doc- 
tor there,  and  her  mamma  seemed  to  be  awake. 
She  ran  toward  the  couch,  but  the  doctor  raised 
his  hand  — 

"  Quietly,  dear,  you  must  not  excite  her  and 
do  not  talk  to  her  at  all.     You  may  hold  her 

29 


30  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

hand  if  you  wish,  and  when  she  is  better  I 
will  tell  her  what  a  little  jewel  she  has  for  a 
daughter." 

Ethel's  face  flushed.  Her  heart  glowed.  She 
recalled  his  words,  "  I  will  be  your  friend." 

After  leaving  directions  the  doctor  left  her 
with  a  hearty  "  Good-night,  little  one ;  God 
bless  you." 

Mrs.  Weston  was  paralyzed.  Her  anxiety  had 
taken  the  life  from  her  nerves.  As  she  slowly 
came  to  herself,  her  one  comfort  was  to  feel  the 
little  hand  in  her  own. 

Many  long  weeks  passed  before  she  was  able 
to  sit  up  in  a  chair,  and  even  then  she  was  very 
feeble,  and  her  mind  seemed  to  be  in  a  dazed 
condition. 

By  this  time  all  the  money  which  Ethel  had 
received  for  her  little  treasures  was  gone,  and 
she  was  discouraged.  She  must  ask  help.  Doc- 
tor Clifford  continued  to  call  every  day,  often 
bringing  fruit  or  other  delicacies.  One  morning 
he  came  a  little  earlier  than  usual  and  found 
Mrs.  Weston  crying  pitifully.  Ethel  had  gone 
from  home. 


I  THINK  I   CAN   SELL  THE    PIECE   OF  JEWELRY 
FOE     YOU,"    ANSWERED    THE    DOCTOR. 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  31 

He  tried  to  be  cheerful.  "  Well,  well,"  he 
said,  "  what  is  the  matter  this  beautiful  morn- 
ing, I  do  not  remember  prescribing  crying, 
did  I?" 

"  I  did  not  expect  you  so  early,"  replied  Mrs. 
Weston,  "but  I  want  to  take  this  opportunity 
to  thank  you  for  your  great  kindness  to  us.  I 
must  own  we  are  at  the  end  of  our  resources 
except  a  few  sacred  things.  I  am  going  to  ask 
you  to  dispose  of  a  valuable  locket  for  me  for 
whatever  you  can  get  for  it.  I  am  sorry  to 
trouble  you,  but  I  have  no  one  else  to  whom  to 
go  and  I  am  very  anxious  to  pay  our  rent  and 
your  own  bill,  too.  Everything  seems  going 
from  me." 

"  I  think  I  can  sell  the  piece  of  jewelry  for 
you,"  answered  the  doctor,  "but  as  for  my  own 
pay,  please  don't  mention  that  until  I  send  my 
bill. 

"I  promised  the  little  one  I  would  be  her 
friend.  Friendship  means  much  to  me,"  he  con- 
tinued. "  Do  you  think  you  would  like  to  do  a 
little  plain  sewing  ?  My  wife  belongs  to  a  soci- 
ety that  does  sewing  for  poor  children,  and  she 


32  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

has  more  than  she  can  do.  It  would  bring  you 
some  money,  and  I  am  sure  you  would  feel 
better  if  your  mind  was  occupied." 

"  That  is  very  kind  of  you,  sir,"  replied  Mrs. 
Weston.  "  I  would  like  to  try  it,  and  Ethel  will 
go  for  the  work  to-clay,  if  you  wish." 

"  Very  well,  I  will  now  visit  my  friend,  the 
jeweller.  Who  knows  but  I  may  have  lots  of 
wealth  for  you  when  I  come  again." 

Mrs.  Weston  awaited  Ethel's  return. 

"I  have  good  news  for  you,  dear,"  she  an- 
nounced, when  Ethel  came  in.  "  I  am  going  to 
do  some  sewing  for  Doctor  Clifford's  wife." 

"  You  do  sewing,  mamma  !  No,  indeed,  you 
are  not  able,  and  I  don't  know  how,  or  I  would 
do  it,  but  I  have  another  idea,  I  am  going  to 
try  to  get  work  in  a  store." 

"Ethel,"  said  her  mother,  severely,  "you  are 
too  young  to  work,  in  the  first  place,  and  I  shall 
never  give  my  consent  to  it,  so  please  drive  that 
notion  out  of  your  head." 

Ethel  said  no  more,  but  did  not  promise  not 
to  think  about  it.  Meantime  Doctor  Clifford 
went  straight  to  Hill's  jewelry  store  and  asked 


THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  33 

Mr.  Hill  if  he  would  buy  the  locket,  saying  it 
belonged  to  a  poor  woman. 

"  It  is  a  very  fine  locket,"  said  Mr.  Hill,  "  but 
how  came  a  poor  woman  to  own  such  a  fine 
article?" 

The  doctor  related  the  whole  story  to  him, 
especially  dwelling  on  the  brave  efforts  of  the 
sweet  little  girl  who  was  striving  to  help  her 
mother. 

"  Yes,  I  will  buy  it,"  said  the  jeweller,  naming 
a  liberal  price,  "and,  by  the  way,"  he  added, 
"  if  there  is  occasion  to  sell  anything  else,  send 
this  child  to  me  personally.  I  would  like  to  see 
her  and  talk  with  her." 

"  Very  well,"  replied  the  doctor,  taking  his 
departure. 

One  touch  of  kindness  leads  to  another. 

That  evening  mamma  and  Ethel  were  sitting 
alone  with  the  light  turned  low  to  save  the  oil. 

Both  hearts  were  sad,  and  each  was  hoping 
the  other  did  not  realize  that  they  were  gradu- 
ally coming  to  want. 

"Mamma,  dear,"  said  Ethel,  "please  take 
some  of  the  gruel,  and  you  will  feel  better." 


34  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

"  Well,  let's  divide  it,  and  then  perhaps  we 
will  both  feel  brighter,"  replied  mamma. 

Then  they  talked  of  the  past. 

Tap  —  tap  —  at  the  door.  It  was  a  familiar 
sound. 

"Come  in,  doctor,"  cried  Ethel,  "I  knew  it 
was  your  knock." 

"  Good  evening,"  said  the  doctor,  "I  have 
been  very  successful  in  my  commission,"  and 
he  placed  in  Mrs.  Weston's  hand  the  money, 
which  just  then  seemed  quite  a  fortune. 

"  How  can  we  ever  thank  you  for  your  kind- 
ness to  us  ?"  she  faltered,  brokenly. 

"  Just  by  not  speaking  about  it,"  replied  the 
doctor,  "  and  I  am  requested  to  say  that  if  you 
want  to  dispose  of  anything  more,  you  can  send 
little  Ethel  to  Mr.  Hill,  of  Hill  &  Co." 

"Why,  mamma!"  exclaimed  Ethel,  "that's 
where  you  said  papa  bought  my  little  silver 
work-box." 


IV. 

Before  many  months  had  passed  their  money 
had  almost  all  melted  away  for  medicine  and 
rent.  The  invalid  had  failed  so  rapidly  that  she 
was  now  too  weak  to  take  interest  in  anything. 
The  care  was  indeed  very  heavy  for  Ethel. 
Life  darkened.  They  felt  they  would  soon  be 
thrown  on  the  world. 

One  morning,  leaving  her  mamma  in  care  of 
good  Mrs.  Heintz,  Ethel  took  her  little  gold 
watch  and  went  into  the  street,  intending  to 
ask  Mr.  Hill  to  buy  it. 

She  was  very  sad  to  think  of  parting  with  her 
watch,  and  so  she  decided  at  least  to  try  to  get 
some  kind  of  work  before  going  to  Mr.  Hill. 

She  tried  to  get  work  in  several  stores,  but, 
although  every  one  was  polite  to  her,  she  soon 
learned  she  was  too  small  for  such  service,  and 
without  experience,  and  no  one  had  time  to  show 
her  how  to  do  anything  useful. 

35 


36  THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

She  was  wandering  about,  discouraged  and 
bewildered,  through  one  of  the  large  stores, 
when  her  attention  was  attracted  by  some  beau- 
tiful silks,  and  she  stopped  to  admire  them. 
While  standing  there  she  heard  one  clerk  say 
to  another,  "  Did  you  read  about  Weston,  the 
gentleman  burglar  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply,  "  he  got  two  years  in 
the  State  prison.     He  was  a  cool  one." 

So  her  father  had  had  his  trial  after  long 
delays. 

Ethel  turned  quickly  away,  and  an  impulse 
seized  her  to  go  to  see  her  papa  in  prison. 

She  wanted  to  tell  him  how  sorry  she  was 
for  him,  and  how  she  would  always  love 
him. 

The  only  prison  she  knew  was  a  police  station, 
so  there  she  hurried  as  fast  as  she  could.  Her 
heart  fluttered  as  she  climbed  the  steps,  but  she 
walked  boldly  in  and  stood  before  the  captain 
who  sat  at  his  desk. 

There  had  come  to  her  heart  a  longing  to 
rebuild  her  home  again.  Few  impulses  are 
more  noble  than  the  heart  of  a  child  seeking 


WELL,  -LITTLE    ONE,    WHAT    CAN   WE    DO    FOR   YOU 


THE  BURGLAR  S  DAUGHTER.  37 

to  rekindle  the  fire  upon  the  old  hearthstone. 
She  felt  that  she  had  gained  much,  when  she 
had  led  the  doctor  to  say,  "  I  will  be  your 
friend."  She  might  find  other  friends.  True 
hearts  gain  friends,  and  to  be  true-hearted, 
under  all  circumstances,  is  the  noblest  thing 
in  life. 

"  Well,  little  one,"  said  the  officer,  pleasantly, 
"  what  can  we  do  for  you  to-day  ?  " 

"  Please,  Mr.  Officer,  I  came  to  see  my  papa. 
I  have  just  heard  he  has  been  sent  here  for  two 
years,  but  if  you  will  let  him  out  sooner,  I  know 
he  won't  break  into  any  more  houses." 

"  So  your  papa  is  a  burglar,  is  he  ?  "  answered 
the  captain,  whose  sympathy  was  enlisted  by 
the  child's  innocence.     "What  is  his  name?" 

"  His  name  is  Henry  Weston,  sir.  He  was 
always  good  to  mamma  and  me,  and  I  know 
he  would  like  to  see  me." 

"  Well,  little  girl,  your  papa  is  in  prison,  and 
this  is  only  a  police  station." 

"  I  didn't  think  there  was  any  difference," 
said  Ethel ;  "  but  perhaps  you  will  tell  me  where 
the  prison  is." 


38  THE  BURGLAR'S    DAUGHTER. 

"  It  is  a  very  long  way  from  here,"  he 
replied,  "  and  you  could  not  get  in  to-day, 
so  I  think  you  had  better  go  home  to  your 
mother  now.  You  have  a  mamma,  haven't 
you?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  she  is  very  sick,  and  I  am  afraid  I 
have  been  away  from  her  too  long,  so  good-bye, 
sir." 

Ethel  went  quickly  home,  and  found  her 
mother  very  much  worse. 

Mrs.  Heintz  was  excited,  but  she  made  Ethel 
have  some  dinner,  and  then  sent  her  for  the 
doctor. 

When  he  came  he  shook  his  head.  Little 
Ethel  stayed  beside  her  mother  all  night.  Falling 
asleep  toward  morning,  she  dreamed  they  were 
all  back  in  their  own  dear  home  once  more. 

She  was  awakened  by  Mrs.  Heintz  speaking 
to  her  mamma. 

"  Och,  dear  lady,  I  am  afraid  you  vas  going 
to  die." 

"Hush,"  replied  Mrs.  Weston,  "don't  let  my 
poor  Ethel  hear  that." 

Ethel,  with  a  beating  heart,  ran  to  her  mamma. 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  39 

u  Mamma  dear,  do  you  feel  better  ? "  she 
asked. 

"  Yes,  love,"  answered  the  suffering  woman, 
faintly. 

The  doctor  had  left  another  prescription  to  be 
filled,  and  Ethel,  who  now  realized  that  she 
would  need  all  the  money  she  could  get,  deter- 
mined to  take  both  her  watch  and  precious  work- 
box  to  Mr.  Hill,  calling  at  the  druggist's  on  her 
way  home. 

She  walked  quickly  down  to  Hill  &  Co.'s,  and 
asked  a  clerk  to  direct  her  to  Mr.  Hill's  private 
office. 

"  He  is  very  busy,  miss,"  said  the  clerk.  "■  Is 
there  anything  I  can  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  I  can  only  tell  my  business  to  Mr.  Hill,  but 
if  he  is  busy  now,  I  shall  wait,"  and  she  took  a 
seat  near  the  office  door. 

Pretty  soon  a  man  came  out  and  left  the  door 
open,  and  Ethel,  seeing  Mr.  Hill  at  his  desk, 
walked  quietly  in. 

The  merchant  met  her  with  lifted  brow ;  he 
saw  a  little  woman  in  the  girl.  "  What  have 
you  to  say,  little  one  ?  "  said  he,  kindly. 


40  THE  BURGLAR' S   DAUGHTER. 

"  My  name  is  Ethel  Weston,  and  I  want  to 
sell —  Doctor  Clifford  said  I  might  come  to 
you,"  she  stammered. 

"  Oh,  you  are  the  little  lady  Doctor  Clifford 
told  me  about ;  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you. 
Have  you  something  to  show  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Ethel,  gaining  courage. 
"  Mamma  is  much  worse,  and  we  must  have 
some  money,  so  I  have  brought  my  watch  and 
the  work-box  papa  gave  me  the  last  time  I  saw 
him,"  and  she  thought  of  her  last  birthday 
party,  and  longed  for  the  light  of  home  again. 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Hill,  much  pleased  at  this 
frank  recital,  "  I'll  tell  you  how  we  will  Hx 
this  business ;  I'll  give  you  whatever  money 
you  need,  and  keep  your  watch  and  box  until 
you  are  ready  to  claim  them." 

Ethel  was  overjoyed  at  this  plan,  Avhich 
sometime  would  give  her  treasures  back  to 
her,  so  she  thanked  him,  and  the  exchange 
was  made. 

After  calling  at  the  drug-store  she  hurried 
home,  if  their  room  could  so  be  called. 

The  next  morning  Doctor  Clifford  called,  and 


THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  41 

was  urging  Ethel  to  lie  down  to  rest,  when  there 
was  a  knock  at  the  door  and  Mr.  Hill,  the  mer- 
chant, appeared. 

"Why,  Mr.  Hill,  how  kind  of  you!"  ex- 
claimed Ethel,  but  in  her  heart  she  wondered 
if  he  regretted  giving  her  so  much  for  her 
cherished  treasures. 

"  I  just  thought  I  would  call  to  see  this  little 
friend  of  mine,"  and  aside  to  the  doctor  he  said, 
"  Is  the  mother  dangerously  ill  ? 

"  Yes,  she  is  a  very  sick  woman,"  answered 
the  doctor. 

"  Well,  can  anything  be  done  for  her  ?  Do 
you  think  if  she  were  to  have  the  proper  atten- 
tion, —  say  —  if  she  were  sent  to  the  hospital 
for  awhile,  would  there  be  some  chance  then  ? 
I  told  the  little  girl  I  would  be  her  friend.  Her 
true  heart  wins  me." 

"  Yes,  but  I  am  afraid  the  mother  will  never 
consent  to  leave  her  little  girl  alone  while  she 
lives ;  however,  I  will  mention  it  to  her  this 
evening  if  she  is  able  to  listen." 

"Do  so,"  said  Mr.  Hill.  "I  have  taken  a 
great  liking   for   this  child,  and  she  may  stay 


42  THE  BUBGLAB'S   DAUGHTER. 

with  Mrs.  Hill  until  her  mother  becomes  quite 
strong  again." 

Just  then  Ethel  joined  them,  and  her  kind 
friend  talked  with  her  very  pleasantly,  and 
when  he  left  the  house  he  sent  her  a  big  basket 
of  nice  things  from  the  nearest  provision  store. 

That  evening  Doctor  Clifford  sat  beside  the 
patient,  and  told  her  that  her  only  hope  of 
recovery  was  to  go  away  to  a  hospital  for 
awhile,  where,  he  said,  "  you  will  get  the  right 
kind  of  treatment."  He  added,  "  Now,  Mr. 
Hill  has  a  private  room  which  you  may  occupy, 
and  he  wants  Ethel  to  come  right  to  his  own 
home  until  you  are  better.  This  is  the  only 
thing  for  you  to  do,  if  you  want  to  get  strong 
for  your  child's  sake." 

Mrs.  Weston  was  very  sorry  to  be  taken 
away  from  her  darling  little  girl,  but  she  was 
helpless,  and  answered,  "  I  am  very  grateful  to 
you  and  Mr.  Hill.  Make  any  arrangements 
you  wish." 

"  That  is  the  right  spirit,"  said  the  doctor, 
well  satisfied,  "  and  we  won't  mention  it  to 
Ethel     to-night,    but     to-morrow    morning     at 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  43 

ten  o'clock  we  will  have  the  carriage  at  the 
door." 

On  leaving  the  house,  he  told  Mrs.  Heintz  of 
the  proposed  change,  and  asked  her  to  have 
everything  ready. 

"  Och,  doctor,  you  vas  very  kind,  and  Mr. 
Hill,  too.  Gott  vill  bless  you  to  help  the  poor 
lady.  I  vill  take  care  mit  the  leetle  girl 
myself ." 

"  We  will  see  about  that  later,  Mrs.  Heintz," 
he  answered. 

The  next  morning  was  clear  and  fine,  but 
Ethel  awoke  with  a  feeling  of  depression  she 
could  not  account  for.  She  dressed  hurriedly 
and  asked  her  mother,  who  had  been  wakeful, 
"  Mamma  dear,  are  you  feeling  better  ? " 

"  Yes,  Ethel,  but  I  wish  to  speak  to  you." 

Mrs.  Weston  spoke  feebly.  "  The  doctor 
thinks  I  had  better  go  away  for  a  little  while 
to  the  hospital.  You  must  be  brave,  dear,  for 
my  sake,  perhaps  I  may  come  back  all  well. 
You  are  going  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill's,  and  I  am 
sure  you  will  be  a  good  little  girl,  and  Mrs. 
Hill  will  take  you  to  see  me  sometimes." 


44  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

There  was  a  failing  heart  under  these  plain 
words. 

Mrs.  Weston  sank  back  on  her  pillow,  ex- 
hausted. Little  Ethel  sat  sobbing  as  if  her 
heart  would  break.  The  door  opened  softly, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  and  the  doctor  entered. 

"  Are  we  all  ready  ? "  asked  the  doctor, 
pleasantly. 

Mrs.  Hill  walked  over  to  the  couch,  and  laid 
her  hand  on  the  sick  woman's  forehead,  and 
said,  "  Dear  Mrs.  Weston,  you  need  not  worry 
for  Ethel,  she  shall  have  everything  her  loving 
little  heart  can  wish  for,  and  we  will  go  to  see 
you  just  as  often  as  the  doctor  allows." 

"  Thank  you,  you  are  indeed  a  very  kind 
friend  to  take  this  interest  in  us.  I  hope  my 
little  girl  will  do  everything  to  please  you." 

Meantime,  Doctor  Clifford  had  taken  the 
pillows  down  to  the  carriage,  and  Ethel  kissed 
her  mamma  good-bye,  trying  hard  to  keep  from 
crying  aloud,  as  the  wasted  form  was  borne  out 
the  door. 

Mr.  Hill,  Mrs.  Weston,  and  the  doctor  drove 
away  to   the  hospital,   and  Mrs.    Hill    put   her 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  45 

arms  around  the  lonely  child,  and  said,  "  Now, 
Ethel,  the  best  way  to  help  your  mamma  is  to 
be  just  as  happy  as  possible.  You  run  and  get 
your  things  and  come  with  me  to  your  new 
home." 

When  Ethel  had  spoken  to  Mrs.  Heintz  and 
Freddie,  she  said,  "  Now,  dear  Mrs.  Hill,  I  am 
all  ready."  She  would  never  forget  Mrs.  Heintz, 
who  had  offered  her  a  home. 

So  they  drove  to  Mrs.  Hill's  beautiful  home, 
and  Ethel's  heart  was  full  of  gratitude  for  her 
dear  friends. 

"  I  am  going  to  let  you  sleep  in  my  prettiest 
guest-chamber  to-night,"  said  Mrs.  Hill,  "  and 
in  a  few  days  you  shall  have  your  own  little 
room." 

The  next  day  Mrs.  Hill  took  Ethel  for  a  long 
drive,  and  when  they  returned  Mr.  Hill  met 
them  at  the  door,  beaming  with  smiles. 

"  Come,  Ethel,"  he  said,  "  I  have  a  surprise 
for  you,"  and  they  hurried  up-stairs. 

A  beautiful  room  met  the  little  girl's  eyes. 
"  Oh,  my !  "  exclaimed  Ethel,  "  isn't  this  the 
loveliest  room  I  ever  saw,  all  blue  and  white, 


46  THE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

and  this  is  my  dear  mamma's  rocking-chair ! 
How  did  you  get  it?  Oh,  how  good  you  are 
to  me,  and  here  is  my  little  silver  work-box ! 
I  can  never,  never  thank  you  enough."  Then 
she  thought  of  the  prison  and  the  hospital. 

Ethel  was  very  happy  in  her  new  home,  where 
every  one  came  to  love  her  dearly,  but  she  was 
just  as  sensible  and  thoughtful  as  ever.  She  had 
one  wish,  and  that  was  to  reunite  her  old  home. 

She  returned  to  her  studies,  at  a  different 
school,  and  tried  hard  to  make  up  for  her  lost 
year,  and  but  for  the  absence  of  dear  mamma, 
and  the  thought  she  might  never  see  her  papa 
again,  she  had  nothing  left  to  wish  for.  But 
no  home  is  like  one's  own  home. 


v: 


, 


JUST    OUTSIDE    THE    PRISON    WALLS. 


V. 

It  is  a  cold,  dreary  day,  the  snow  is  falling 
fast,  and  just  outside  the  prison  walls  stands 
a  man  who  once  had  a  happy  home  and  was 
respected  by  all. 

His  hair  and  beard  are  now  unkempt,  and 
although  he  is  not  old  they  are  sprinkled  with 
gray ;  his  clothes  are  coarse  and  ill-fitting,  and 
he  wears  an  old  slouch  hat,  pulled  down  over 
his  eyes.  For  two  years  he  has  looked  forward 
to  the  day  when  he  would  be  free. 

Now  the  day  has  come,  yet  he  feels  careless 
and  discouraged. 

He  wonders  where  he  shall  find  his  wife  and 
child,  of  whom  he  was  so  fond. 

"  Will  they  be  glad  to  see  me,  a  felon  from 
prison,  who  has  disgraced  them  ? "  he  asked 
himself.  "  Of  course  not,  —  if  so,  they  would 
have  come  to  see  me  in  two  years.  I  will  see 
them,   if    only  for   once,"   he  mused,   "I   must 

47 


48  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

see  them."  He  walked  about,  feeling  the  utter 
loneliness  of  life. 

Toward  evening  he  walked  slowly  down  to 
the  railroad  station  to  take  a  train  for  his  old 
home. 

At  the  station  he  saw  the  people  hurrying 
to  and  fro,  rushing  home  to  loved  ones,  which 
seemed  to  emphasize  his  own  loneliness.  He 
bought  a  ticket  with  money  given  him  by  the 
prison  officials  and  when  the  train  came  took 
a  seat  in  a  dark  corner,  to  avoid  recognition. 

Arriving  at  the  old  familiar  station,  he  got 
off,  and  as  he  had  no  money  left  with  which  to 
take  a  car  he  walked  to  the  place  he  once  called 
home. 

The  house  looked  dark  and  deserted.  He 
mounted  the  steps  and  rang  the  bell,  once, 
twice,  but  there  was  no  response.  Being  con- 
vinced that  the  house  was  unoccupied,  he  forced 
open  a  window,  and,  benumbed  with  cold  and 
hunger,  entered  the  deserted  rooms  and  fell 
asleep  on  the  floor. 

In  the  morning,  thinking  no  one  would  recog- 
nize him,  in  his  changed  appearance,  he  went 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  49 

out  into  the  street.  He  made  inquiries  for  his 
wife  and  child.  None  knew  whither  they  had 
gone. 

Servants  in  the  neighboring  houses  gave  him 
food,  but  could  not  give  him  any  information 
about  his  loved  ones. 

He  tried  to  get  work,  but  every  one  eyed  him 
suspiciously,  and  turned  him  away,  often  with 
a  harsh  word.  He  looked  what  he  was,  and  the 
world  read  his  secret  history. 

In  the  evening  he  met  Mr.  Hill,  who  was  on 
his  way  home. 

The  two  had  been  friends  years  before,  but 
Weston  felt  confident  that  he  would  not  be 
recognized,  so  he  resolved  to  ask  him  for  help 
first,  and  if  possible  learn  something  of  his  wife 
and  child. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  sir,  will  you  help  a  poor  man 
to  find  a  night's  lodging  ?  "  he  said. 

Mr.  Hill  was  busy  with  his  own  thoughts, 
and  did  not  look  carefully  at  the  beggar,  as  he 
gave  him  a  dime  and  passed  quickly  on. 

Weston  did  not  refuse  the  coin,  but  felt 
angry  and    desperate   at    being   unable   to  find 


50  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

work  or  friends.  Then  the  temptation  came 
back  to  him. 

"Well,"  he  muttered  to  himself,  "I  am  not 
obliged  to  beg.  If  I  can't  live  honestly  I  know 
another  way,  and  when  some  of  these  rich 
fellows  wake  up  in  the  morning  to  find  they 
have  a  little  less  money,  I'll  have  a  little 
more.  Why  not  try  Mr.  Hill's  house  to-night  ? " 
he  asked  himself.  "  I  know  the  place  well, 
and  he  is  very  rich." 

The  plan  fitted  his  mind.  He  entered  a 
cheap  restaurant  and  ate  as  much  supper  as 
his  money  would  buy.  Then  he  went  to  the 
park  near  Mr.  Hill's  home  and  walked  about, 
waiting  for  midnight.  The  bells  struck  the 
hours.     The  twelve  strokes  passed. 

At  last  he  approached  the  house.  All  was 
still  and  every  one  inside  of  it  seemed  to  be 
asleep.  Very  carefully  he  made  his  way  through 
a  cellar  window,  and  up  into  the  dining-room. 

The  plate  was  there.  He  picked  out  the 
choicest  bits  of  silver,  but  what  he  most  wanted 
was  money. 

He  crept  up-stairs  cautiously  and  entered  the 


THE  BUBGLAB'S  DAUGHTER.  51 

first  chamber.  He  had  no  lantern,  but  the 
moon  shone  into  the  room. 

He  glanced  at  the  bed,  and  saw  a  little  girl 
asleep  with  her  face  turned  toward  the  wall, 
and  one  little  arm  thrown  over  her  head.  He 
opened  the  bureau  drawers  softly,  putting  a 
little  watch  in  his  pocket,  and  was  turning  to 
leave  the  room  when  his  eyes  fell  on  a  small 
silver  work-box  of  peculiar  shape  lying  on 
the  table  beside  the  bed.  His  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  it.  A  great  fear  came  over  him.  He 
recalled  the  night  of  the  party. 

With  trembling  hands  he  opened  the  cover 
of  the  box  and  by  moonlight  read  the  hand- 
writing on  the  card  inside.  He  had  written 
these  words  himself !  Strength  left  him  and, 
overcome  with  emotion,  he  sank  to  the  floor, 
and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands  with  the  box 
beside  him.  He  might  be  arrested,  but  he 
had  ceased  to  care  for  himself.  Ethel  was 
slowly  awakened  by  the  light  noise.  She  sat 
up  in  bed,  and  saw,  as  in  a  dream,  a  man  who 
looked  very  much  like  a  tramp,  sitting  on  the 
floor.      She   leaned   forward.     What   was   that 


52  THE   BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER. 

beside  him  ?  It  was  her  box,  her  father's  last 
gift.     She  must  speak ! 

"  Sir/'  she  cried,  "  who  are  you,  and  how 
dare  you  touch  the  box  my  papa  gave  me  ? 
Give  it  to  me  now  !  " 

The  dreadful  figure  filled  her  with  terror. 
Her  courage  failed  her,  and  she  began  to  trem- 
ble. It  was  terrible  to  be  in  a  room  with  a 
stranger  like  that. 

The  man  lifted  his  head. 

"Don't  be  afraid  of  me,  little  girl,  I  won't 
hurt  you,"  he  said,  recognizing  her  at  once. 
"Where  is  your  mother  ?  " 

"  She  is  very  sick  at  the  hospital." 

"  Has  she  been  there  long  ?  What  is  the 
matter  with  her  ? "  he  managed  to  say.  How 
pitiable  he  looked ! 

"She  has  been  away  almost  a  year,  and  she 
has  been  sick  for  nearly  two  years,  since  papa 
was  taken  away  from  us,"  she  said,  sadly. 

"  Where  is  your  papa  ?  " 

"  My  papa  is  in  prison.  Two  men  took  him 
away  for  breaking  into  people's  houses.  He 
was  a  burglar,  they  said,  and  my  poor  mamma 


'sir,"  she  cried,  "who  are  you?" 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  53 

was  so  sick  all  the  time  she  could  never  go  to 
see  him." 

"  Would  you  like  to  see  him  again  ?  " 

"I  have  tried  to  find  him,"  she  sighed. 

"  Ethel  darling,  look  at  me,  don't  you  know 
your  own  father  ?  " 

She  bent  her  eyes  on  the  hapless  figure.  The 
moon  streamed  through  the  room  ;  the  clocks 
were  striking  two. 

"  My  papa  !  It  is  trice,  then,  that  you  are 
really  a  bad  man,  after  all,  and  did  you  break 
into  Mr.  Hill's  house  for  money?  Oh,  papa  — 
go  —  for  my  sake,  go  !  " 

The  silver  box  glimmered  in  the  rays  of  the 
moon.     The  house  was  very  still. 

"  My  dear  Ethel,"  said  the  man,  brokenly,  in 
a  low  tone,  "  forgive  me,  I  will  try  to  reform. 
Oh,  my  poor  dear  wife,  sick  for  two  years  ! 
Ethel,  I  will  be  upright,  and  honest  now,  —  if 
only  we  can  be  united  once  more." 

He  held  out  his  hands. 

"  Won't  you  try  to  love  me  again,  little  one  ? 
You  do  not  understand  my  temptations  and 
hardships.      I    have    suffered    for    my  sins.      I 


54  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

long  for  a  right  life.  Oh,  that  the  past  coulcl 
be  blotted  out !  " 

Tears  fell  upon  his  beard.  "Ethel,  tell  me 
all." 

Ethel  then  told  him  how  she  and  her  mamma 
had  lived  and  tried  to  work ;  how  they  had 
parted  with  their  treasures  one  by  one ;  how 
she  had  sold  her  work-box  to  Mr.  Hill,  and  how 
kind  he  had  been  to  her  and  her  mother. 

"Ethel,  I  will  go  away.  I  rob  Mr.  Hill! 
What  a  wretch  I  have  been  !  " 

What  touched  the  father  most  was  that  his 
little  daughter  told  him  that  she  had  refused  to 
believe  him  bad  until  she  saw  him  in  the  act  of 
robbery  in  her  own  room.  She  put  her  arms 
around  his  neck. 

"  I  will  forgive  you  and  love  you  as  much  as 
ever,  if  you  will  promise  me  that  you  will  never 
do  such  things  again.  If  you  love  me,  and  really 
mean  to  be  a  good  man,  you  will  come  with  me 
to  Mr.  Hill's  room  and  tell  him  all  about  your 
life,  and  that  you  are  sorry  for  breaking  into 
his  house." 

"  I  will  go  away,"  he  said. 


THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER.  55 

"  No,  you  must  confess  —  "  Her  heart  should 
be  true. 

The  man  hesitated,  partly  for  fear  of  being 
sent  back  to  prison,  but  more  on  account  of  the 
disgrace  he  would  bring  again  on  his  family. 
He  was  now  sincerely  repentant. 

She  saw  it  was  so.  Her  first  thought  was  to 
send  him  away.  It  was  a  clear  night,  and  all 
the  world  was  still.  He  could  go  out  softly,  and 
only  they  would  know  that  he  had  ever  entered 
the  house. 

But  her  mother's  words  came  to  her :  "  A  true 
heart  wins  friends." 

She  lifted  her  eyes,  and  sat  in  silence. 

"  If  you  go  away,"  she  at  length  said,  in 
a  low  voice,  u  and  I  never  tell,  you  may  be 
tempted  to  enter  another  man's  house.  Would 
I  do  right  never  to  tell  Mr.  Hill  ?  I  cover  up 
a  wrong  and  expose  my  kind  friend  to  danger. 
I  see  the  right  clearly,  don't  you,  papa  ?  " 

"  Oh,  that  I  could  have  a  child  that  could 
reason  thus,  —  I  am  unworthy  of  you,  Ethel,  — 
but  if  I  confess,  think  about  the  disgrace  I  will 
be  to  you."     He  felt  as  one  at  a  judgment  tri- 


56  THE  BURGLAR'S  DAUGHTER. 

bunal !  "  Yes,  I  will  do  as  you  wish,  and  if  I 
am  sent  away  from  you,  dear,  forget  me  if  you 
can.     I  am  not  worthy  your  love." 

She  rose  and  dressed.  It  was  a  terrible  reso- 
lution, but  she  led  her  father  across  the  hall, 
knocked  at  the  door  of  Mr.  Hill's  room,  and 
waited  for  a  response.  What  was  she  doing  ? 
How  would  this  end  ? 

In  a  few  moments  she  heard  Mr.  Hill  get  up 
and  light  a  lamp. 

"  It's  Ethel,  Mr.  Hill,  I  want  to  see  you." 

"  What's  the  matter,  are  you  ill  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  but  I  must  talk  with  you.  Some- 
thing has  happened.     May  I  come  in  ? " 

Mr.  Hill,  throwing  on  his  dressing-gown, 
opened  the  door.  Ethel  stood  there,  hand  in 
hand  with  the  man  who  had  begged  the  price 
of  his  supper  that  night,  —  a  burglar. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  asked  Mr.  Hill, 
wondering  who  this  man  could  be.  The  face 
looked  familiar  to  him,  and  yet  he  could  not 
place  him.  Why  was  he  here  ?  Was  his  own 
life  in  danger  ? 

"  Sir,  this  is  my  papa,  and  I  never  believed 


THE  BUBGLAB'S  DAUG1ITEB.  57 

until  he  broke  into  this  house  to-night  that  he 
was  a  wicked  man,  but  he  is  sorry.  Will  you 
forgive  him  ?" 

Face  to  face  with  a  burglar  at  midnight !  Mr. 
Hill  knew  not  what  the  danger  might  be,  but 
he  said,  firmly : 

"  Ethel  dear,  go  to  your  room,  and  I  will 
speak  to  this  man." 

Ethel  obeyed,  and  the  burglar  then  frankly 
told  Mr.  Hill  that  the  object  of  his  visit  to  the 
house  was  to  rob  him,  unconscious  that  he  had 
been  benefactor  of  his  wife  and  child.  He  re- 
lated all  that  had  occurred  since  he  left  prison, 
and  promised  to  be  an  honest  man  if  he  could 
get  work. 


VI. 

Mr.  Hill  listened  to  the  strange  tale.  Was  it 
true  ?  Could  this  man  be  trusted  ?  He  would 
test  him.     He  said  to  him  "  Go  !  " 

The  man  turned  to  obey  him.  "Stop,"  said 
Mr.  Hill,  "  if  you  want  work,  Weston,  you  shall 
have  it  if  I  can  secure  it  for  you.  Leave  me 
now.     I  will  see  you  in  the  morning." 

Weston  thanked  his  friend.  Mr.  Hill  gave 
him  some  money,  and  let  him  pass  out  the  front 
door  into  the  still  night.  The  burglar  was  a 
changed  man. 

When  Weston  returned  to  Mr.  Hill  early  the 
next  day,  he  was  clean  shaven,  his  clothes  were 
nicely  brushed,  and  he  looked  respectable. 

Ethel  was  delighted  with  her  father's  appear- 
ance, and  when  he  and  Mr.  Hill  had  made 
arrangements  for  the  employment  of  her  father, 
she  said  : 

"  Dear  Mr.  Hill,  this  is  visiting  day  at  the 

58 


TEE  BURGLAR'S   DAUGHTER.  59 

hospital.  May  I  take  papa  there  to  see 
mamma  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  dear  ;  and  I  am  sure  your  mamma 
and  papa  ought  to  be  very  proud  of  their  true- 
hearted  little  girl !  " 

"  I  am,  sir,"  answered  her  father ;  "  she  has 
been  my  salvation." 

This  was  true. 

Mrs.  Weston  had  partly  recovered.  She  for- 
gave her  husband,  and  when  he  told  her  how  his 
loving  little  daughter  had  completely  changed 
him  from  a  thief  to  an  upright,  honest  man, 
she  declared  she  was  "  the  happiest  woman 
alive." 

In  a  few  weeks  her  health  had  so  greatly  im- 
proved that  the  doctors  consented  to  let  her  go 
home. 

Home !  how  sweet  the  word  sounded  to  the 
poor,  tired  heart !  Home  to  the  hopes  of  old  — 
to  Ethel  and  papa  ! 

Good  Mr.  Hill  had  furnished  a  pretty  little 
flat  for  his  "  friends,"  and  when  Mr.  Weston 
thanked  him  he  nodded  his  head  and  said  : 

"  That's  all  right.     I  would  be  glad  to  do  a 


60  THE  BURGLAR' S  DAUGHTER. 

great  deal  more  for  that  little  child.  I  have 
done  my  part, —  don't  you  forget  to  do  yours." 

"  I  never  will.  I  cannot  forget  the  promise  I 
made  to  my  little  daughter  in  your  room  at 
midnight,"  —  and  he  kept  his  word. 

He  was  true  to  the  end,  and  in  the  shadows  of 
age  he  would  speak  the  name  of  "  Ethel "  with 
grateful  tears. 

"  A  true  heart  wins  friends,"  —  more,  it 
finds  friends,  in  the  hearts  that  it  changes  from 
evil  to  good,  and  feels  the  worth  of  life  in  this 
creative  power. 


THE    END. 


